Forum Flash | Gone fishing

Sen. Mitch McConnell

Freedom seems to be under attack lately so it is inspiring that in Kentucky, one freedom remains inviolate.

That, of course, is our freedom to fish, secured through a new federal law called the "Freedom to Fish Act."

Kentuckians oblivious to this threat may thank our two U.S. senators, Republicans Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul.

Mr. McConnell, considered the architect of obstruction in Washington, moved fast after learning the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers planned to restrict fishing close to dams along the Cumberland River in Kentucky and Tennessee because people too close to the dams kept dying in boating accidents.

Mr. McConnell, sponsor of Freedom to Fish, wasn't persuaded. "You can imagine the outrage at a decision by the Obama administration to end this proud tradition in the name of big government-certified safety and security," he announced.

Mr. Paul, a co-sponsor, denounced "bureaucratic overreach."

It would be nice to see them just as outraged over the deep federal spending cuts they helped cause that now are costing so many federal workers in Kentucky lost pay from furloughs.

Perhaps the 8,800 civilian Defense Department workers losing 11 days pay this year could just go fishing.

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Forum Flash | Gone fishing

Freedom seems to be under attack lately so it is inspiring that in Kentucky, one freedom remains inviolate. That, of course, is our freedom to fish, secured through a new federal law called the